Week four has come and gone. You are sitting there, staring at the wreckage of the team you had been so excited about after the draft. You crowed to your friends and on Reddit that you were winning the championship this year. Then reality hit. Injuries set in. None of your x-factors hit. Sitting here, staring at your phone with a drink in your hand, you wonder where it went all wrong. Do not despair though! FAAB Waiver Wire Guide for Week Five is here!
There are some players to take some chances with this week, and before you disparage them remember where we are. Four weeks in you are at least 1/3 of the way through the regular season. Now is the time to start gearing up for that late-season push. Go get some guys to carry you through the bye weeks, steal you some wins, and get you to the playoffs. Seasons begin with a draft but are won with FAAB.
FAAB Waiver Wire Week 5 Guide
Mid-Tier Targets (20-40%)
This is officially the launching of the D’Ernest Johnson Hype Train. The former USF and AAF standout took a roundabout path to the NFL, but he appeared ready for the big stage with a breakout game on Sunday. Nick Chubb is sidelined at least for three weeks, most likely more. Johnson showed elusiveness and burst on Sunday as he turned his 13 carries into 95 yards, a staggering 7.3 yards per carry. He averaged 6.9 yards per touch on 11 touches per game in the AAF. His elusiveness, hard-nosed running, and receiving capabilities have set him up.
Fantasy is not just about talent, it also takes opportunity. So far in 2020, the Browns have gotten their top two running backs a staggering 118 touches through four games. Nearly 30 touches per game for their top two backs and it has been a relatively even split. Both Chubb and Hunt have been averaging 5.5+ yards per carry. This Browns’ offensive line has been opening up huge holes on every carry. This is a juicy opportunity for a talented and hungry back. Drop up to 30% of your FAAB on Johnson, more if you are a Chubb manager. He looks every bit the part of an RB2 until Chubb returns.
The Patriots put Sony Michel on injured reserve Monday and activated Damien Harris. Harris has been speculated about as being a sneaky addition since the preseason. He is only on 15.4% of rosters and is a good candidate to breakout moving forward. Michel may be out for a while, that opens up at least 10 touches per game. Harris looked the part as he finished Week 4 with 17 carries for 100 yards. If you need to find a strong running back to contribute, drop up to 24% of your FAAB on Harris. He is a gamble, but one that could pay off big.
Steady Contributors (10-20%)
The Buffalo Bills are a surprisingly efficient and potent offense, and much of that has been coming through the air. With the second-most passing yards and second-most passing touchdowns, Buffalo is a prolific passing attack. In keeping with the second place theme, target Cole Beasley with around 11% of your FAAB. Beasley is only rostered in 20.2% of leagues and presently the WR26 is 0.5 PPR format. Go get Beasley and enjoy his steady production of a WR3.
It is challenging to find a good tight end option these days. With all the difficulties of finding a reliable tight end, it makes no sense for Dalton Schultz to be rostered in only 33.7% of leagues. Go get the TE07 now. He will finish the year as a top-ten tight end, if not higher. Be willing to put down 11% of your FAAB waiver wire on him.
Tim Patrick (WR) – 10%
Laviska Shenault (WR) -14%
Scotty Miller (WR) – 10%
Reliable Bargains (<10%)
Tee Higgins continues to expand his target share in Cincinnati and that offense seems to want to keep chucking it. Joe Burrow looks the part of a franchise quarterback and Higgins is emerging as one of his go-to receivers opposite Tyler Boyd. Higgins has flex floor the rest of the season and is worth up to 10% of your FAAB.
Robert Tonyan showed out in a big way in Week 4 with 6 catches for 98 yards and three touchdowns. However, this might not be the flash in the pan it seems like. His target share has been increasing each week and it is clear he has Aaron Rodgers’ trust. Davante Adams may come back, but Tonyan will have more big weeks ahead. Drop up to 10% of your FAAB on the guy who is Rodgers’ third receiving option behind Adams and Jones.
Justin Jackson seems to be on pace for an increased role after Austin Ekeler’s knee injury on Sunday. Josh Kelley and Ekeler have been equally splitting the running back work for the Chargers, with Ekeler being more involved in the passing game. It seems that Jackson and Kelley would continue that trend until Ekeler’s return. Consider putting down up to 10% of your FAAB on Jackson. More if you are running back desperate. Do not go higher than 20%. Jackson has never looked the part of a reliable fantasy asset.
Speculative Fliers (<10%)
Kenyan Drake has been a disappointment so far this season. Especially when you consider his ADP was RB10 or higher for much of the preseason. Drake’s underperformance leaves the door open for Chase Edmonds to step up into the lead role. If Kliff Kingsbury takes action to try to spark a change and boost the offense up to his standards, Edmonds may need to be the guy. Edmonds mediocre running the ball, but Edmonds has been the more dynamic receiving option. Kingsbury needs to take a look in the mirror and get Edmonds more involved in the offense. The Cardinals offense ultimately starts and ends with DeAndre Hopkins, but Edmonds may be in line for an increased role. Gamble on this and drop up to 8% of your FAAB on him.
Darnell Mooney got involved for the Bears on Sunday, but it remains to be seen if he can secure that level of work moving forward. His target share has been increasing each week and the Bears need someone opposite Robinson. His snap count has increased each week as well, peaking at 74% this weekend. There is still a great deal of unknown surrounding the rookie, but he might have the skills to be a late-season breakout. Mooney is worth up to 8% of your FAAB waiver wire value.
Julio Jones is hurt and Calvin Ridley just put up a goose egg on Monday. Someone has to be targeted in Atlanta, and that seems to be Olamide Zaccheaus. Zaccheaus put on a show catching eight passes for 86 yards on nine targets. He dominated the Falcons’ passing attack and has set himself up for a big role if Julio misses more time. Drop up to 6% of your FAAB on him if Julio remains questionable.
Reggie Bonnafon – 7%
No Bid/Free Agency Targets
Some folks will start to be desperate for running backs as we get into the bye weeks. Start planning now by adding guys like Alexander Mattison. Mattison has consistently been getting 6-10 touches per game and the Vikings are running 25+ times per game.
Brain Hill got 10 touches against the Bears and may continue to carve out a larger role in the Falcons’ offense. The Falcons are focused more on passing the ball but will be in enough shootouts. Hill may be able to carve out a role moving forward and continue to steal touches from Todd Gurley.
If you are in a PPR league, JD McKissic has some speculative value. Washington will be losing a lot and Antonio Gibson cannot be on the field for every play. If you are truly desperate for a back McKissic could work.
Bill O’Brien was fired by the Texans and it remains to be seen what that will mean for their offense. Randall Cobb is usually a target monster so he is worth a speculative add after waivers run. Cobb has some higher PPR value as well.
OJ Howard is out for a while with an injury. This means Cameron Brate could be in line to step up in Tampa. Brate has been productive before but is a speculative play after not being too involved so far this season.
The Cowboys DST has been an absolute sieve this year and has not posted positive points yet. However, this week they get to play an anemic Giants’ offense. They are worth a speculative add so long as you do not drop any FAAB on them. Drop them immediately afterward as they play the Cardinals in Week 6.
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